The Orioles claimed righty reliever Darren O'Day off waivers from the Rangers, the team announced.
O'Day, 29, struggled with the longball in 16 2/3 big league innings for Texas this year. The sidearmer tossed another 21 1/3 innings in the minors, mostly at Triple-A. O'Day will be arbitration eligible for the second time after the season, and we project a very small raise to $1.3MM.
O'Day joined the Rangers via an April 2009 waiver claim from the Mets. From that point through the end of the 2010 season, he provided the Rangers a 1.99 ERA, 7.6 K/9, 2.2 BB/9, and 0.61 HR/9 in 117 2/3 innings. Over the course of his career, he hasn't shown the typical lefty/righty splits of a sidearm pitcher.
The Orioles' 40-man roster now stands at 38, as Jake Arrieta, Brian Roberts, and Luke Scott were activated from the 60-day DL.
Who exactly claimed him? Was it Peter Angelos or one of his brilliant fantasy baseball playing sons?
I would assume that Showalter and Matt Klentak are running the show until this pathetic joke of a franchise can find some sad-sack chump to take the GM job.
Precisely. I’m wondering if Klentak gets an interview now…
I liked your comment. Mostly because I like you, not the comment itself. That wasn’t very good.
Interesting first move from Tony LaCa… oh, wait…
Could this be the personnel move that proved to be the sticking point for Tony?
another Ranger reject heads to Baltimore.
where’s the dislike button?
Let’s hope every O’s dog has his O’Day
maybe if they acquire Hudson
He’d fit right in with the other O’s
Nice move by Baltimore. O’Day could be a solid reliever and maybe even SU if given a full time job.
Wow, 7 HR allowed in 16.2 innings? Charlie Morton allowed 6 all season in 171 innings.
His HR/FB ratio was 30%. That’s just bad luck and nagging injuries. His career ratio is 8.5% and league average fluctuates around 10%.
Edit: see notsureifsrs post below
Rather shocked Rangers waived him. I thought O’Day did decently for the Rangers, though he was injured this past season. I guess this is them making room for somebody?
I had some cute comment all lined up for this pick-up, but I decided to be serious this time. Anyway, he’s an excerpt from an article back in 2009: O’Day has also benefitted from Mike Maddux moving his positioning on the rubber. Don’t know if that happens if he stays with the Mets but he still would have been better than the alternative. I am not sure what happened to O’Day in 2011, but in 2009 and 2010 he looked to be pretty good. He was also popular with the fans; they used to chant his name O’Day. I guess I can see why, it’s catchy. The other thing, I would like to bring up, because I hear his name being dropped by MLB Network as a possible manager. I like that idea; I would like it even more if the Orioles hired him as a manager! He’s an excellent pitching coach and I like his laid back demeanor, he would be perfect for the Orioles! Have Buck Showalter go upstairs and let him become the face of the franchise that way. It could work and then again it might not, but it would show me the Powers that Be in Baltimore can indeed make some concessions and this is a concession I would love to see!
PS Everyone says pitching is the big problem in Baltimore, in fact Brian Cashman was quoted as saying Pitching,Pitching,Pitching (New York), if the Orioles are serious about getting better(pitchingwise), they should do this!
o’day went from a ~6% HR/FB rate to 30%, the epitome of a fluke. the rest of his peripherals were stable and his stuff was fine. this is a nice pickup
This.
I think the injury had something to do with it
possibly. i’d never claim he bears zero responsibility. all i’m pointing out is that his velocity was fine, the movement on his pitches was fine, and his k-rate and walk-rate were fine. his line-drive rates were normal and he didn’t give up more fly balls than usual either
he pitched 15 of his 16 innings in a home-run park in arlington and gave up a crapload of homeruns. that sucks, i can see why texas would waive him. but it looks like a fluke and this could be a very nice grab by baltimore
I am sorry to see O’Day leave, as a Rangers fan. Nice pickup by the O’s.
It amazes me how quickly a relief pitcher’s career can turn around.
Nice move.
A smart move by the Orioles? Never thought I’d see the day.
2 no names for JJ was a horrible move, right?
O’Day is pretty good. He was huge for Texas in 2010. Hope he does well in Baltimore.